Resume Objectives for Teens

By Liza Hollis; Updated July 05, 2017

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Getting a part-time job is an effective lesson in work ethic for teenagers. It can also be an opportunity for teens to explore an interest, or develop an understanding of an industry. As a teenager, getting a job can be a struggle. From demanding school and extracurricular schedules to a lack of work experience, it can be difficult to qualify for the job you want, let alone be chosen from a pool of other applicants. A strong objective statement at the top of your resume can help grab employers’ interest.

Identification

The objective is the portion of your resume at the beginning of your document, just below your contact information. The objective describes to your potential employer the job you are applying for, and allows him to obtain a brief understanding of what you have to offer. As a teenager, you might not have a rich employment history; you can use this area to explain to the reader how this job would enable you to learn more about your chosen field. For example, “Seeking a position as a cashier in a grocery store in efforts to develop customer service skills and become familiar with business operations.”

Description

It is not necessary to be too wordy in the objective portion of your resume. A statement as simple as “to obtain a position as a student intern at ABC Publishing company” is more effective than a long-winded paragraph about your skills or desires -- such information is better suited to an attached cover letter. An objective statement should be no longer than two sentences in length, or about 170 characters total. It should also not feature any first-person words, such as “I” or “my.”

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Alternatives

In classic resumes, an objective statement is written under the heading “objective” and is featured at the top of the resume. You may choose instead to format your objective into a “summary” or “profile” section on the resume. This idea is strong for teen workers, who might not have professional credentials. Instead, it could be a bulleted list of strengths. For example, “experienced with Web applications” or “certified in CPR” could be formatted on this list. This will allow it to function more like a curriculum vitae, which is common in academic and medical fields.

Benefits

The benefit of a strong objective statement is that it can get you noticed by a potential employer. As a teenager, it can be difficult to let your resume stand out from other candidates. An objective statement can help in this process. It is also beneficial in that it ensures your resume will make it into the right hands.

References

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About the Author

Liza Hollis has been writing for print and online publications since 2003. Her work has appeared on various digital properties, including USAToday.com. Hollis earned a degree in English Literature from the University of Florida.